Tire protector



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,850

J. J. MGDONALD TIRE PROTECTOR Filed may 18, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 Nov. 27, 1928.

J. J. MCDONALD l TIRE PROTECTOR Filed May 18, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet @trouw 1,1

Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

JOHN J. MCDONALD, OF WESTVIEW, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIRE PROTECTOR.

Application filed May 18, 1925. Serial No.' 30,930

My invention relates to improvements interlocking metallic membersa, 5, 5, 6, 6, and

protectors for pneumatic tires. The object of the invention is to produce a flexible metallic shield adapted to surround the tire and effectually protect the saine against liability of puncture, without lessening in any material degree the cushioning effect obtained with a pneumatic tire. Another' object of the invention is to prevent contact between the .tire and the protector except at the tread portion of the tire, at which point the tire contacts with the rubber semi-spherical discs se` cured' in the protector, as shown in Figure 1, whereby the protector is spaced apart from the tire forming space around the tire in which air circulating serves as a medium to cool the tire and at the same time this construction holds the protector out of harmful frictional contact with the tire, thus preserving the tire against excessive wear.

l accomplish these several objects by means of the device hereinafter described, which broadly stated consists of a series of interlocking flexible metallic sections, each of which comprises a series of interlocking metallic members in the tread portion of which rubber segments are iirinlysecured and form the wearing surface of 'the protector. The said device is hereinafter more specifically described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming` part hereof in which:

Figure 1, is a transverse section of the pneumatic tire showing a portion of the demountable rim with my improved' protector secured thereto.

Figure 2, is a perspective side elevation of one complete section or unit of the protector;

Figure 3, is a developed plan view of the plate 7.

Figure 4l, is a perspective plan of the base plate and plate 7 secured thereto;

Figure 5, is an inverted perspective view of plate Figure 6, is a perspective view of the fastening straps.

Referring to said drawing, 1 is the demountable rim of any usual construction upon which is adapted to be secured in any suitable manner the usual rubber tire 2, within which is located the usual inner pneumatic tube 3. A, is my improved tire protector, which is adapted to surround and completely enclose the rubber shoe 2, and which consists of va series of iiexible interlocking sections each of which is formed of a plurality of in- 7, all of said metallic members being adapted to be interloclred and formed into one section of the series of similar sections which forni a" substantially integral annular shield adapted to enclose and completely surround the exterior' surface of the rubber shoe or The said members are interlocked tire 2. and formed into a. unitary structure as follows:

Member 7, which I term the base member, comprises a metallic plate having along the ends thereof, lingers a, o, and on each of` its sides vertically disposed fingers, @,d, one side. of said member at each end thereof is provided with extensions e, e, formed along the edge thereof adjacent to the fingers CZ, which are slightly depressed below the plane of the main body of the plate so as to maintain thel body portion of all the plates when assembled upon the same plane. The said member is also provided with lingers 7E, 7, which with fingers, c, d, constitute the holding means to firmly secure the plate S upon the member 7. The said plate 8, has mounted thereon' a series of semi-spherical members 9, formed of rubber which are spaced spaced apart as shown for the purpose of providing air spaces therebetween, and the surface of the rubber shoe or tire 2 adapted to rest thereon, and also serves to prevent frictional contact between the tire and the protector except at the tre-ad portion of the tire. The said plate 8 has a marginal ange 10, against which the fingers c, d, and 7, f, are adapted to be bent for f the purpose of holding said plate securely upon the section 7. It will be noted that the middle semi-spherical members 9 are some-- what higher than the end members. The member 4, consists of a metallic plate, the middle portion of which substantially conforms in shape to the letter S, having at each end extensions g, g. Vertically disposed slots L, L, are formed in each of said extensions, also laterally disposed slots v1, i. The slots z., h, are for the reception of correspondingly formed lingers, y', j, formed in the members 5, whereby when the said fingers are inserted in said slots, the two sections are iirmly interloclred. The said sections 5 are symmetrical, the outer ends having formed therein slots 7o, 7c, each adapted to receive a correspondingly formed finger 6', on the inner end of the member 6, whereby the two members are interlocked firmly together.

The said"` member 6, constitutes a strap i'ork the purpose of securing the protector as an entirety to the demountable rim, each of said' straps having in their Widest portion slots a, n, in Which the narrow ends p, p, are adapted to be interloclred. lt Will be noted: upon inspection of Figures l, 2 and 3, that members 4l and 5, Which areY arranged in end to end relation, are placed upon the member 7 with the latter projecting an appreciable distance beyond one side ot the members i and 5. When the various sections of the tire protector are connected together, they are arranged side by side with the projecting portion of the plate 7 just mentioned arrangedv beneath the members 4 and 5 of the adjacent section, so that. the lingers a and at the ends of the member 7 can be arranged With-.in the adjacent slots z' formed in the eX- tensions g of the member 4rof the adjacent section. In this manner all of the sections ot the'protector are interloclred side by side as Will be readily understood.

The member l is provided Witli'langes C which are arranged` parallel with the tensions g, While the intermediate S-shaped portion olthe member 4t is also provided with somewhat similar flanges D, the latter' mentioned flanges being arranged in pairs, and also disposed with relation to the flanges C to permit the rubber tread elements or seg ments B to be rictionally held and properly supported therebetween as clearly illustrated in, Figure l. The lingers M, M,k also assist in. holding the segments in place.

Having described my invention what l claim and. desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s;

it. In, a pneumatic tire protector, an annular shield surrounding the same and comrisinfy a )luralit of sections arranged side member et the adjacent section, n'flierebyA saidY sections are connected together" ini overlapping relation.

2L In a pneumatic tire protector, an ann-ular shiel'd surrounding the same comprising a plurality or' sections arranged side by side, each section including a base membenllanges projecting inwardly from the innerk side or the member, a plate supported between said flanges, a series of semi-sphericalY yie'ldaib-le members carried by' said' plate and' arranged to engage the tread oi" the tirev for spacing the protector therefrom, a tread member ai"- ranged on the outer side 'of the base, means having interlocking' associ-ation with the tread member for attachingt-he section in an applied position, and' means whereby the base member of one section is inter-locked with ther tread member of the adjacent section. in overlapping relation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto` signed my name. f

JOHN J'. Menonnrn.. 

